The newspapers are full of North Melbourne after its stunning win over Fremantle on Sunday. The Herald Sun has Boomer celebrating one of his four goals on the front page, while The Age has all the boys enjoying the victory on the final siren.
Inside, it’s all about the Roos’ sensational comeback victory and how the team has managed to prove its doubters wrong.
The 11-point win made it seven games straight – the first time the club has put a streak like that together since 1999.
The Herald Sun
“North Melbourne doubters were so plentiful a month ago the line started at Werribee. That line is considerably shorter after Sunday’s victory over ladder leaders Fremantle.
“Can the Roos go all the way? Can they do it against the big boys away from Etihad? Are they mentally strong enough?
“Time will be the decider, but there’s no denying North Melbourne will play finals and in finals it will be a challenger to all. The Roos were terrific.
“They won in a manner that ticked off all aspects of performance: Gritty, mature and, by the end, inspiring.” – Mark Robinson
The Age
“North had to work all day, in every imaginable day. But they were willing to do it, for however long it happened to take them.” – Emma Quayle
The Herald Sun
“Don’t look now, but North Melbourne has won seven straight matches, has sealed its finals participation and might just be a premiership contender.
“You couldn’t have said that seven weeks back when this club was agreeing with the contention it was mentally soft.” - Jon Ralph
After facing a 24-point deficit after the first quarter, North dug deep and worked its way back into the contest.
The Herald Sun
“What was most pleasing in the final quarter was North’s willingness to play attacking football. It knew it couldn’t expect to beat Fremantle by playing slow, careful and methodical football. Instead, the Roos won the ball, had teammates to support and went whooshka with the ball.
“Whenever there was run, there was a Kangaroos player in support. Whenever a Kangaroos player was corralled or tackled, there was a teammate there for the dish off.
“With the eyes, it was a sparkling final quarter. With the numbers, it was rolled gold.
“So, the Kangas beat them up and then ran them off their legs.” – Mark Robinson
The Age
“North was without suspended onballer Jack Ziebell but it was its midfield brigade that worked it back into the contest after a slow start and provided its irresistible momentum in the last quarter when the Roos kicked five goals to two to seal a stunning win.” – Emma Quayle
Brad Scott hailed for holding his nerve against the competition leader.
The Herald Sun
“We are all guilty of ground-shaking commentary, but reckon coach Brad Scott would categorise the win among the best half dozen of his coaching career.
“Coach Brad Scott must be acknowledged. He continually said the draw did not favour North — and some people scoffed — and that it would be best to judge his team when the second half of the season had been played out.
“Scott’s confidence in his team has been rewarded.
“His hard-ass attitude since returning from back surgery can’t be ignored either and only the inner sanctum can truly judge how much impact that has had on the team.” – Mark Robinson
A week after signing on for his 21st season, the evergreen Brent Harvey played one of the games of the season with four clutch goals.
AAP
“The Kangaroos' intensity around the contest lifted sharply in the second term and Brent Harvey, who finished with four majors, capitalised on that good work with three first-half goals.”
AFL.com.au
“Brent Harvey re-signed to play another season midway through the week and showed why against Freo. The 38-year-old kicked three goals in the first half of his 404th game and hit the post once. Apart from giving away a 50m penalty when he lost concentration in the first quarter, he was electric and kept his team in the match. He received good support from Robin Nahas who kicked two goals and roamed far and wide for his kicks. It was only just that Nahas hit Harvey on the lead late in the last quarter for Harvey to kick the sealer.” – Peter Ryan
The Herald Sun
“The heroes were everywhere and of course they included Brent Harvey, his late nerve-jangler capping off a sterling four-goal afternoon.” – Jon Ralph
North’s backline also received some much deserved credit for stifling the Docker’s many entries inside its forward 50
The Age
“Their defenders – Robbie Tarrant, Scott Thompson, Lachie Hansen, Sam Wright – became harder and harder to take marks on or run away from.” – Emma Quayle
The Herald Sun
“The much-scrutinised backline gave up only five goals after quarter time … The North Melbourne defence has looked brittle at times but both Robbie Tarrant and Lachie Hansen were excellent with 16 marks between them.” – Jon Ralph
The Age
“At first, their backmen were able to hang tough as Fremantle forced more shots on goal. Then they were able to start getting the Dockers on the back foot as they moved the ball through the middle with a bit more speed, confidence and ambition. They kicked just three goals to one in the second term, but it felt like theyhad won back control of the game, or at least evened everything up again.” – Emma Quayle
The Herald Sun
“Shaun Atley and Sam Wright had seven and eight respectively (disposals in last quarter) off the back flanks and Atley gained an astonishing 189m.” – Mark Robinson
Todd Goldstein’s duel with Aaron Sandilands was just one highlight with the North big man able to kick the sealer late in the game.
AAP
“Todd Goldstein battled Aaron Sandilands all afternoon in a fascinating ruck duel but bobbed up with two crucial goals - including the last major of the game - in the last quarter.”
AFL.com.au
“Todd Goldstein copped a hiding early from Aaron Sandilands, who had clearly set himself up for the challenge on his heir apparent as the League's No.1 ruckman. Sandilands looked really dominant early, but Goldstein won some separation as the game progressed and played a slashing last quarter, which included two goals.” - Ashley Browne
The Herald Sun
“So it was critical on Sunday that Todd Goldstein was able to bounce back with two goals including the sealer, after Aaron Sandilands kicked a pair of his early.” – Jon Ralph
AFL.com.au
“Two of the game's best ruckman went head to head and were significant influences on the contest. However it was not in the way expected, with Sandilands (43 hit-outs) and Goldstein (28) having their moments around the stoppages. Sandilands managed to kick two goals in the first quarter, pushing deep into the forward line and making North Melbourne defenders very nervous. Goldstein, as he has done all season, ran around the ground and won the ball either as the outlet kick or drifting back into defence. He also created a goal for Ben Brown in the first term and kicked two himself in the last quarter including the sealer. His six last quarter disposals were critical. If Fyfe finds himself ineligible, Goldstein will become a justified Brownlow Medal favourite.” - Peter Ryan
North tagger Ben Jacobs got the job done on Brownlow favourite Nat Fyfe while the Roos’ midfielders lifted after a first quarter smacking.
The Age
“Things kept coming together, bit by bit. As Ben Cunnington, Andrew Swallow and others began to insist even more strongly on getting the ball, North was able to generate more play.
The Herald Sun
“Fyfe was held to 21 possessions by Jacobs, with his slide into his opponent no doubt influenced by the tagger’s close checking.” – Mark Robinson
The North forward line became increasingly dangerous as the game wore on, led by Jarrad Waite and some brilliant contrasted marking from Ben Brown.
The Age
“Slowly, it was their forwards who began to look more dangerous. In Jarrad Waite, Drew Petrie and Ben Brown, North had variety and options.” – Emma Quayle
The Herald Sun
“Ben Brown and Jarrad Waite were dominant with seven marks between them and two goals
“Seriously, Waite was superb overall with 17 disposals, seven marks and three goals.” – Mark Robinson
AFL.com.au
“The decision to bring Waite to the club has paid dividends. Not as much as Shaun Higgins, who has become a jet, but Waite kicked three goals and with Brown and Drew Petrie, they stretched Fremantle to eventual breaking point.” – Ashley Browne
